Share Mood Machine by Liz Pelly

Copy link

March 12, 2025

Mood Machine by Liz Pelly

37 minutes

Joel Goodman and Ron Bronson delve into Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. They discuss the book's exploration of Spotify's impact on the music industry, focusing on historical parallels, algorithmic control, and the creation of 'fake' artists.

The conversation includes personal reflections on the evolution of music consumption, streaming services, and the nostalgia of early music platforms and blog eras. Throughout, they emphasize the moral and existential implications of Spotify's practices for both artists and listeners.

Chapters

00:00 - Synopsis and Initial Impressions of 'Mood Machine'

00:36 - Historical Context and Surprising Elements

01:37 - Algorithmic Control and Fake Artists

02:34 - The Evolution of Music Streaming

04:40 - The Impact of Algorithmic Playlists

07:11 - The Role of Human Curation in Music Discovery

10:17 - The Decline of Music's Artistic Value

11:43 - The Dangers of Algorithmic Influence

14:03 - Nostalgia and the Value of Craft

26:35 - Supporting Artists in the Streaming Era

31:18 - Nostalgia and the Blog Era of Music

36:24 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly. Buy on Bookshop.org

...more

View all episodes

By Future Perfect Book Club